Industrial - Machinery
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NPO vs CW
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Aerospace & Defense
NPO vs CW — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Industrial - Machinery | Aerospace & Defense |
| Market Cap | $6.36B | $26.70B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.14B | $3.61B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $41M | $511M |
| Gross Margin | 42.6% | 37.2% |
| Operating Margin | 14.1% | 18.5% |
| Forward P/E | 33.6x | 48.3x |
| Total Debt | $655M | $1.31B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $115M | $371M |
NPO vs CW — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| EnPro Industries, I… (NPO) | 100 | 685.9 | +585.9% |
| Curtiss-Wright Corp… (CW) | 100 | 727.0 | +627.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NPO vs CW
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
NPO is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 11 yrs, beta 1.61, yield 0.4%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.61, Low D/E 42.4%, current ratio 2.32x
- Beta 1.61, yield 0.4%, current ratio 2.32x
CW carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 12.1%, EPS growth 22.0%, 3Y rev CAGR 11.0%
- 8.2% 10Y total return vs NPO's 5.8%
- 12.1% revenue growth vs NPO's 9.0%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 12.1% revenue growth vs NPO's 9.0% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (33.6x vs 48.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 14.2% margin vs NPO's 3.5% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.23 vs NPO's 1.61 | |
| Dividends | 0.4% yield, 11-year raise streak, vs CW's 0.1% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +100.0% vs NPO's +74.7% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 9.8% ROA vs NPO's 1.6%, ROIC 14.1% vs 6.1% |
NPO vs CW — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
NPO vs CW — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CW leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
CW is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.6B annually — 3.2x NPO's $1.1B. CW is the more profitable business, keeping 14.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to NPO's 3.5%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.1B | $3.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $264M | $729M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $41M | $511M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $158M | $591M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +42.6% | +37.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +18.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.5% | +14.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +13.8% | +16.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.3% | +13.4% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -3.3% | +29.1% |
Valuation Metrics
NPO leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 56.2x trailing earnings, CW trades at a 64% valuation discount to NPO's 157.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, NPO's 26.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than CW's 43.3x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.4B | $26.7B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.9B | $27.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 157.56x | 56.20x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 33.57x | 48.34x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.58x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 26.09x | 43.32x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 5.56x | 7.63x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 4.09x | 10.74x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 39.94x | 48.21x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CW leads this category, winning 5 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
CW delivers a 19.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $20 in annual profit, vs $3 for NPO. NPO carries lower financial leverage with a 0.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CW's 0.52x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.7% | +19.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +1.6% | +9.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +6.1% | +14.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +6.8% | +16.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.42x | 0.52x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $541M | $943M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $115M | $371M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $655M | $1.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.69x | 15.90x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
CW leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in CW five years ago would be worth $54,902 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $32,941 for NPO. Over the past 12 months, CW leads with a +100.0% total return vs NPO's +74.7%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CW at 64.7% vs NPO's 47.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +37.4% | +26.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +74.7% | +100.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +218.7% | +347.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +229.4% | +449.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +575.2% | +815.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +47.2% | +64.7% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NPO and CW each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
CW is the less volatile stock with a 1.23 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NPO's 1.61 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.65x | 1.24x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $310.13 | $750.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $167.56 | $359.48 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.0% | +96.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 67.3 | 59.8 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 242K | 303K |
Analyst Outlook
NPO leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NPO as "Buy" and CW as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 4.7% upside for NPO (target: $315) vs 2.4% for CW (target: $741). For income investors, NPO offers the higher dividend yield at 0.41% vs CW's 0.13%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $315.00 | $741.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 11 | 25 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.4% | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 11 | 10 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.25 | $0.92 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.7% |
CW leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). NPO leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
NPO vs CW: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NPO or CW a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger pick with 12.
1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 0% for EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO). Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) offers the better valuation at 56. 2x trailing P/E (48. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO) a "Buy" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — NPO or CW?
On trailing P/E, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the cheapest at 56.
2x versus EnPro Industries, Inc. at 157. 6x. On forward P/E, EnPro Industries, Inc. is actually cheaper at 33. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NPO or CW?
Over the past 5 years, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) delivered a total return of +449.
0%, compared to +229. 4% for EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CW returned +823. 2% versus NPO's +593. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — NPO or CW?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
24β versus EnPro Industries, Inc. 's 1. 65β — meaning NPO is approximately 33% more volatile than CW relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 42% versus 52% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NPO or CW?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is pulling ahead at 12.
1% versus 9. 0% for EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Curtiss-Wright Corporation grew EPS 22. 0% year-over-year, compared to -44. 6% for EnPro Industries, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CW leads at 11. 0% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — NPO or CW?
Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
8% net margin versus 3. 5% for EnPro Industries, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CW leads at 18. 2% versus 14. 1% for NPO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NPO leads at 42. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is NPO or CW more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, EnPro Industries, Inc.
(NPO) trades at 33. 6x forward P/E versus 48. 3x for Curtiss-Wright Corporation — 14. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NPO: 4. 7% to $315. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — NPO or CW?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO) offers the highest yield at 0. 4%, versus 0. 1% for Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW).
09Is NPO or CW better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Curtiss-Wright Corporation (CW) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.
24), +823. 2% 10Y return). EnPro Industries, Inc. (NPO) carries a higher beta of 1. 65 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (CW: +823. 2%, NPO: +593. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between NPO and CW?
Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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